Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/157

 As all the  contrition  yon  could  feel,  or  all  the  sorrow  which  ever filled  the  hearts  of  the  greatest  penitents,  would  of  itself  be insufficient  to  atone  for  your  sins,  you  should  always  recollect  to build  your  hopes  of  pardon  on  the  merits  of  your  Redeemer,  and  to unite  your  sentiments  of  contrition  to  the  bitter  anguish  and efficacious  sorrow  which  Jesus  Christ  was  pleased  to  endure  for your  offences,  particularly  in  the  Garden  of  Olives. Enter there in  spirit,  and  behold,  in  the  person  of  your  Saviour,  a perfect  model of  what  a true  penitent  should  be,  and  offer  up  all  his  merits  and sufferings  to  supply  for  the  deficiences  of  your  sorrow  and  other dispositions. This may  be  done  in  the  following

DIVINE Lord,  I am  very  sensible  that  it  is  the greatest of  all  misfortunes  to  offend  thy  divine Majesty, and  that  no  misery  can  exceed  that  which is attached  to  the  violation  of  thy  law; therefore  I again  declare,  that  I abhor  my  sins,  and  return  to thee  with  my  whole  heart. But, O my  God! when I consider that  one  single  offence  is  a just  and  sufficient motive  for  eternal  tears — when  1 reflect  on  the bitter regrets  which  the  saints  felt  for  a venial  sin, and then  compare  my  grievous  offences  with  my  imperfect sorrow,  I am  justly  alarmed  at  my  great insensibility. O! why is  not  my  sorrow  as  great  as my  offences! — why cannot  I grieve  for  them  even unto death,  and  collect  in  my  heart  all  the  contrition that was  ever  felt  by  the  greatest  penitents,  that  thus it may  truly  be  broken  with  sorrow,  and  incapable of enjoying  any  other  satisfaction  than  that  which  is found  in  serving  thee! But since  those  holy  dispositions are  graces  to  which  I have  no  claim,  I beseech  of  thee,  O divine  Lord! to accept  my  desires, and to  supply  from  the  treasure  of  thy  infinite merits all  the  deficiencies  in  my  preparation  for  this